House Republicans Flock to Blackburn's Internet Freedom Act
The Internet Freedom Act (HR-1212) has now attracted 43 GOP co-sponsors, a dozen more backers since House lawmakers broke for last week’s recess. House Commerce Committee Vice Chairwoman Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., early this month introduced the bill, which would nullify…
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the FCC’s net neutrality order and prevent it from reclassifying broadband as a Communications Act Title II service. The latest co-sponsors include Reps. Billy Long of Missouri; Barbara Comstock of Virginia; Gus Bilirakis of Florida; Louie Gohmert of Texas; and Jeb Hensarling of Texas. The legislation doesn't have the backing of Commerce Committee leaders trying to forge bipartisan net neutrality legislation. Free Press blasted Blackburn's legislation and the draft legislation of Commerce Committee leaders. The Internet Freedom Act is one way Congress "could f*ck up net neutrality," Free Press said in a blog post Monday, also criticizing the other draft legislation being touted as a possible bipartisan compromise: "This bill is the wolf in sheep’s clothing. It’s been around since last year and is being presented as compromise legislation. This fake Net Neutrality bill is riddled with loopholes and would legalize harmful discriminatory practices. It would also strip the FCC of its authority to adopt and enforce rules." Blackburn has another piece of legislation also gaining GOP backers -- the States’ Rights Municipal Broadband Act (HR-1106), which would prevent the FCC from executing the municipal broadband order it recently approved. That bill now has 11 co-sponsors.